First Timers (festival)

First Timers
GenrePunk rock, Indie rock
Locations
Years active2013 - present

First Timers is a yearly series of workshops in London, England, culminating in a two-day festival that encourages "new faces and voices in bands", in order to "do something about the lack of diversity in the music community".[1]

Background

The festival was founded by Bryony Beynon of Good Throb, inspired by similar events in North America, with the first events happening in 2013.[2]

To take part, one or more band members have never been in a band before or one or more members has never performed that role in a band before, and one or more band members has to belong to a group marginalised in society.[3] This includes being disabled, transgender, queer, non-binary, LGBTQIA+, a person of colour, or a woman.[4][5]

Bands that emerged from the festival include Big Joanie,[6] Whitelands,[3] Charmpit, Breakup Haircut,[2] Primetime,[2] Scrap Brain,[7] Slags and Panic Pocket.[8] Speaking with The Guardian in 2019, an organiser with the festival reported that nearly 90 bands had formed to play the festival up to that point.[9]

The 2018 edition of the festival was held at DIY Space for London on 5 and 6 May.[10] Beynon also organised an iteration of the festival in Sydney, Australia on 14 July 2018.[11][12] The 2022 edition was held on 8 May at the Amersham Arms in New Cross.[13] The 2023 edition was held on 28 May at The Victoria in Dalston.[14] The 2024 edition was held at the same venue on 5 May.[3]

References

  1. ^ "The events and workshops where women can kickstart their metal career". Team Rock. 13 February 2018. Archived from the original on 27 February 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Interview: First Timers Fest". Joyzine. 26 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Crudgington, Kate (12 January 2024). "First Timers Workshops Return For 2024!". Get In Her Ears. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  4. ^ Creg (September 2017). "First Timers". Maximum Rocknroll. No. 412. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  5. ^ Lohman, Kirsty; Pearce, Ruth (2021). "Queering community development in DIY punk spaces". In Meade, Rosie; Shaw, Mae (eds.). Arts, Culture and Community Development. Policy Press. p. 117. ISBN 9781447340515.
  6. ^ Myers, Owen (30 October 2017). "Women of color have always had a place in punk. Big Joanie is here to remind you of that". The Fader. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  7. ^ "New Blood! P.E.A.R.L., HÄRDA UT, SCRAP BRAIN, PEDESTRIAN, and NERVE QUAKES". Maximum Rocknroll. 8 December 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Get To Know – Panic Pocket". For The Rabbits. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  9. ^ Mohdin, Aamna (12 April 2019). "'I've got all this rage': the feminist punk groups demanding to be heard". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  10. ^ "First Timers Fest Hosts Workshops For Aspiring Musicians". Get In Her Ears. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  11. ^ Gallagher, Allison (25 May 2018). "First Timers Sydney is the perfect excuse to start a band". The Brag. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  12. ^ Howell, Alex (July 2023). "Romance - Seven Inches of… EP". Maximum Rocknroll. No. 482. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  13. ^ Crudgington, Kate (5 May 2022). "INTERVIEW: First Timers Fest". Get In Her Ears. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  14. ^ Crudgington, Kate (19 January 2023). "First Timers Fest Returns For 2023!". Get In Her Ears. Retrieved 10 February 2026.

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